APPROPRIATE
RESPONSES TO HOMELESSNESS IN WALLA WALLA
Walla
Walla Alliance for the Homeless
I. Executive
Summary
Introduction
On August 15, 2016, the city manager
instructed city staff to begin a study of how the City of Walla Walla
could best respond to persistent homelessness. The study was to include
preparation of a homeless camping plan consisting of
an inventory of all available city property, a review of best practices for
homeless campgrounds, a set of criteria for site selection including security
and other needs, a rating of sites, input from stakeholders, and a list of the
top several site recommendations. The
results were to be ready for review by the public and presentation to the city
council in October or November.
At the same time, the City approved the establishment of a temporary
campground to provide a safe, legal place for homeless citizens of Walla Walla
to reside while the City studied longer-term responses. The GOTR (Getting Off the Road) campground is
located at the foot of the hill leading to the Veterans Memorial Municipal Golf
Course, on the same site used as a music tour campground facility by the Gentlemen
of the Road (GOTR) in August 2015.
The council had previously authorized council member Steve Moss to
establish a Downtown Work Group on disorderly conduct and homelessness in the
downtown area, which met 10 times beginning on July 27.
At a city council workshop on November 7, 2016, the council received the
preliminary staff report, including recommendations of the Downtown Work Group,
and heard public comments. At the
conclusion of the workshop, the council authorized the GOTR campground to
continue at least until mid-February, 2017, in order to provide winter stability
for homeless residents, and to allow the council time to further study the
recommendations and comments it had received.
Conclusions and Recommendations
There appears to be general agreement that
- homelessness is a chronic issue that will
continue to exist for a variety of reasons,
- although it is a county-wide issue, homelessness
particularly affects the City of Walla Walla since homeless citizens tend to
congregate here,
- additional affordable and barrier-free permanent
housing is needed to accommodate Walla Walla’s homeless citizens,
- legally prohibiting homeless camping in Walla
Walla’s downtown and other public places requires the provision of one or more
designated public places where homeless camping is allowed,
- downtown homeless issues and complaints have
been greatly reduced, almost to zero, since allowing the camp,
- day center services are needed
- a designated campground for those awaiting
permanent housing should be near services, and should also provide on-site social
services and management.
Campers have not been included in the previous studies, and only one
council member has been involved in the study groups. The Alliance recommends that the city council
appoint a further committee including council members, campers, Alliance
representatives, and other appropriate persons to visit the existing camp as
well as other proposed sites, and to consider best management practices and
other issues related to the operation of a campground for the benefit of the entire
community as well as Walla Walla’s homeless citizens.
Based on its experience working at the GOTR campground, the Alliance
lists below its recommendations concerning the most workable campground
location, campground facility elements, and management and operational
needs.
II. Recommended Responses to Homelessness
It is clear that homelessness has been increasing in Walla Walla and
throughout the nation over the last decade.
Permanent affordable housing has not kept pace with the need, and should
be a top priority for community and nationwide response. At the same time, immediate needs of homeless
citizens should be met in humane and appropriate ways through the creation of
comprehensive systems that accommodate all of our citizens.
Walla Walla’s two current shelters provide important services, but
neither is barrier-free and each has significant limitations. The YWCA shelter
is limited to female victims of domestic violence, and requires that residents
be substance-free. In addition to
religious requirements, most stays at the Christian Aid Center are limited to
30 days for single men who must also be substance-free. No accommodations are provided for homeless
couples or those with pets, and accommodations for women have been full since
closure of the Helpline STEP shelter, with many women turned away.
A key element in meeting the immediate needs of homeless persons in
Walla Walla is the designation and effective operation of a well-managed
homeless campground as a safe, legal, and barrier-free place for unsheltered
citizens to reside while they are given assistance to obtain permanent
housing.
Site for Campground
City staff listed several considerations to be used in evaluating city
properties for potential suitability as a campground. These included, among others, access by
emergency services, proximity to public transportation and social services, and
impacts on neighborhoods and businesses.
The four sites recommended by staff for consideration were: (1) the east
end of Fort Walla Walla Park west of Chestnut Street, (2) the undeveloped west side of Mountain
View Cemetery along Third Avenue, (3) the city parking lot at Sumach &
Fifth, and (4) the existing campground area on the north side of Rees Avenue
along Highway 12.
The Alliance recommends the current location, which is Option #4, for
the following reasons:
Option #1 is located in the immediate vicinity of several housing
facilities, as well as nearby Blue Ridge Elementary School. Access to the site is limited to the bicycle
trail beginning at the terminus of Chestnut Street, making it difficult for agency
staff, donors, and volunteers to assist there.
The western portion of the site also includes dense wilderness areas
where it would be difficult to control unauthorized expansion.
Option #2 directly adjoins a
residential neighborhood to the north, and is located far from both public
transportation and services of any kind.
Option #3 is surrounded on all sides by a residential neighborhood.
Option #4 is buffered from residences by Highway 12, is easily
accessible by agency staff, emergency services, donors and volunteers, and is
in reasonable proximity to public transportation and other services. The site is
limited on all sides, with Highway 12 to the east, Rees Avenue to the south,
Par 72 Drive to the west, and a steep hill to the north. Public utilities are
immediately adjacent to the site.
Campground Facility Requirements
Based on its experience working at the GOTR campground, the Alliance
recommends that the following elements be included in any homeless campground,
regardless of its location:
1. Proximity to public transportation and public services.
2. Perimeter fencing for both security and screening.
3. Toilets, shower, and hand-washing facility
4. Utilities, including water, electricity,
garbage, and a drainage system
5. Parking availability to
accommodate agency staff, volunteers, and donors
6. Common spaces for
administration, meetings, social service interviews, secure storage
of equipment and supplies,
and food preparation
7. Fire pit
8. Management by a city
department or non-profit agency.
Hours of Operation
Most homeless citizens don’t own their own tents and other needed
camping equipment or a place to store them. At the existing campground, these items
are loaned to residents during their stay at the camp. The time required for
proper installation of a tent and needed coverings makes it impractical to
dismantle and reinstall each campsite and camper belongings on a daily basis,
as proposed by City staff.
In addition, a requirement that campers leave the campground and take
all of their belongings with them during the day would handicap them in their
pursuit of treatment, education, job search, and other tasks needed in
obtaining permanent housing. For these reasons, the best practice is to assist
campers in making the most efficient use of their time in improving their
skills, health, education, income, and general functioning to transition to
independent living.
If the recommendation for a downtown day center comes to fruition, camper
property should continue to be kept at the campground during the day, including
reasonable security and camper access.
Rules and Sanctions
In order to assure maximum protection of campers and the public, the
City’s homeless campground should be designated a non-public space under the
direction of a City department or non-profit organization with full powers of
management. These should include the
power to enforce rules, control access, and exercise other authority normally
available to campground management. Most
problems and police calls at the existing campground have involved a small
number of individuals who have been unable or unwilling to comply with basic
rules necessary for the security and functioning of an organized campground and
the well-being of its campers.
The following is a sample of rules adopted by campers at the existing
campground.
Basic Rules:
1. All persons who are willing
and able to comply with these rules are welcome as residents.
2. All minors must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian.
3. Use or transfer of alcohol or
non-prescription drugs by residents is not permitted in the campground or in
the vicinity of the campground.
4. Violence, threats, and the
display of weapons by residents are not permitted in the campground or in the
vicinity of the campground.
5. Theft or unauthorized use or
destruction of property by residents is not permitted in the campground or in
the vicinity of the campground.
6. Camping must be in designated
areas, and all campsites must be kept in a clean, compact, attractive, and
sanitary condition.
7. All residents will
cooperatively maintain common areas litter-free and assist with other
campground tasks.
8. All paths and roadways must
be kept clear.
9. Pets must be on a leash and
residents must clean up after their pets.
10. Be respectful to all persons
in the campground and in the vicinity of the campground.
11. Keep music and other sound
volume to a minimum.
12. Campers who are absent for
five or more consecutive days without making arrangements with camp officials
will be presumed to have abandoned any property left behind. Three days’ notice will then be given to the
camper’s contact number, after which the property will be removed from the
camp.
Additional Rules:
1. All visitors must report at
the gate and be escorted while in the camp.
2. No person may enter the tent
of another person unless accompanied by the resident or having written
authorization to do so.
3. All tents are subject to
periodic inspection by camp officials for sanitation and rule compliance upon
24 hours notice to the camper.
4. No open flames are permitted
in camping spaces.
12-23-16
